PHOENIX, August 29, 2017 /3BL Media/ — Cox Communications and The Trust for Public Land today named Eric Sophiea as Arizona’s 2017 Cox Conserves Hero. Climbing Association of Southern Arizona, Sophiea’s nonprofit beneficiary, will receive $10,000. Sophiea was among the three finalists who were nominated by the public then chosen by local judging panels to compete in an online vote for the title of Arizona’s Cox Conserves Hero.

Sophiea founded Climbers Association of Southern Arizona in 2015 to build an empowered group of rock climbers who give back to the community. As President, Sophiea dedicates thousands of personal volunteer hours managing all levels of the registered 501(c)(3) organization. He has forged collaborations with nonprofits and conservation agencies, including the AZ Wilderness Coalition, AZ Conservation Corps and the US Forest Service.

The Cox Conserves Heroes awards program was created through a partnership with The Trust for Public Land and Cox Enterprises, the parent company of Cox Communications. The program has donated nearly $800,000 to environmental nonprofits, and nearly 200 volunteers have been honored.

Arizona’s Cox Conserves Heroes program is sponsored locally by OdySea Aquarium. OdySea Aquarium in Scottsdale, AZ, is the newest aquarium in the country. Spanning 200,000 square feet, this multi-level, state-of-the-art facility holds more than 2 million gallons of water and is the largest aquarium in the Southwest. With over 65 exhibits and 500 different species, there are more than 30,000 animals that call OdySea Aquarium home.

Cox Conserves Heroes also takes place in California, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Virginia and Washington and is part of the company’s national Cox Conserves sustainability program that is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Cox Communications is the third largest cable provider and a multi-service broadband communications company in the country, serving nearly 3 million residential and business product subscribers in Arizona (a product subscriber represents an individual service purchased by a customer). In metro Phoenix, Cox serves approximately 2.5 million product subscribers. In Southern Arizona, Cox serves approximately 400,000 product subscribers. Cox’s 24,000-mile hybrid fiber coaxial cable network throughout Phoenix and Southern Arizona provides homes and businesses with digital television, high speed Internet, home networking, high-definition television and digital telephone service over its own nationwide IP network. Cox is the third largest private for-profit employer in Arizona. During the past ten years, Cox has topped numerous J.D. Power and Associates’ studies of customer satisfaction, most recently receiving top honors for residential telephone & high speed Internet, and business data services and has received PC Magazine’s “people’s choice” award for the sixth time. Additionally, Cox High Speed Internet has been ranked #1 for the past eight years on the “Ranking Arizona-Best of Arizona Business” list. Cox Media is responsible for the sale of cable advertising throughout Arizona. Cox Communications is a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises and serves approximately 6 million customers nationwide. Additional information about Cox in Arizona is available at www.cox.com/arizona.

About The Trust for Public Land:

The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live within a one-half mile walk of a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

About Cox Conserves:

Launched in 2007 by Chairman Jim Kennedy, Cox Conserves is Cox Enterprises' national sustainability program. Cox Conserves focuses on reducing waste and energy consumption, as well as conserving water. The program engages each of the company's major subsidiaries (Cox Communications, Cox Automotive and Cox Media Group) and encourages Cox Enterprises' 60,000 employees and their families to engage in eco-friendly practices.

3BL Media is the leading Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and sustainability news distribution and content marketing company. Our focus is on issues including sustainability, CSR, energy, education, philanthropy, community, reporting, and other social and environmental topics and communication.